Then and now...how the defenders of Bill Clinton have changed their
tunes...

Then

Now

Ask for the Rodino model.

Deny you ever wanted the Rodino model.

Ask for the impeachment process to be limited to Monica Lewinsky.

Complain that it's only about Monica Lewinsky and
that there isn't anything regarding Whitewater, Filegate, Travelgate,
etc.

Demand that Ken Starr testify.

Blame the Republicans for wasting everybody's time
with Starr's testimony.

Demand that Ken Starr defend his
report.

Assert that Ken Starr had no right to "promote"
his own report.

Advocate, draft and vote for the
Office of the Independent Counsel Act.

Decry the OIC as illegal, unlimited in power and scope,
and abusive.

Agree that if the President had
an affair with an intern, that would be very serious.

Say that it's "just" about a "consensual"
affair with an intern.

: Say that if Clinton lies before
the Grand Jury, it would be grounds for impeachment.

Say that lying to a Grand Jury "does not rise
to the level of an impeachable offense."

Agree that perjury would be very
serious, if it were proven.

Assert that perjury is not that serious. "Everybody
lies about sex."

Assert that what the President did
was "reprehensible" and "indefensible."

Maintain that the President's offenses are "trivial"
-- and keep on defending them.

Claim that the President's actions
warrant a severely worded censure.

Hold a pep rally to show your total support for the
President.

Maintain that when Clarence Thomas
talked dirty to an employee (although unproven), that is sexual
harassment.

The President can grope anyone he wants, and that
is not sexual harassment (apparently, as long as the subordinate
welcomes the advances and the perpetrator is a liberal proponent
of abortion rights).

Linda Tripp is Public Enemy #1 for
betraying a "friend" who wanted her to commit perjury.

Clinton can betray his wife, his family, his oath
of office, his oath in a court of law, and the country, but it's
not as bad as what Linda Tripp did.

Accuse Republicans of being partisan.

Guarantee that all Democrat Senators will vote against
conviction.

Declare that the President should
have an opportunity to defend himself, to rebut the charges, and
to cross-examine his accusers.

A trial isn't necessary.

: Decry the impeachment proceedings
in the House based on "lack of evidence."

Assert that no trial is necessary because we have
all the evidence.

Accuse Republicans of not wanting
witnesses.

Say there is absolutely no need for witnesses.

We cannot put the country through
a long impeachment trial.

If you bring in witnesses, we're going to prolong
this trial and drag it out as much as humanly possible.

The President has admitted to wrongdoing.

The President should never admit to doing anything
wrong, because it would put him in legal jeopardy.

"Impeachment is the equivalent
of political assassination."

"It doesn't feel so bad to have been impeached."

The process is taking too long.

The process is moving too fast. (Repeat)

Praise the President's call to "Stop
the politics of personal destruction."

Private investigators using FBI files from the White
House basement, Ms. Rodham-Clinton's rantings about the "vast
right-wing conspiracy," and the antics of hatchet men like
James Carville not withstanding, the real politics began when Clintonista
Larry Flynt holds a press conference to initiate the "personal
destruction" of some Clinton critics in Congress.